Information for Researchers No. 92 | 6 December 2018Funding Opportunities for Indo-German Fundamental Research Projects in the Life Sciences

DBT and DFG offer synchronised funding for fundamental research projects in all fields of the life sciences

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) wish to inform the Indian and German scientific communities that effective immediately, it is possible for teams of Indian and German researchers to seek synchronised funding for integrated Indo-German cutting-edge fundamental research projects proposing innovative approaches in the academic disciplines covered by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, with a duration of up to three years.

DBT and DFG expect that proposals submitted under this funding initiative describe ambitious projects of curiosity-driven research, which do not just benefit from but essentially require international collaboration to achieve the defined objectives. The basis for this funding initiative is the Programme of Cooperation signed by the two agencies on 25 October 2012.

On the German side, the regulations governing the funding opportunity, including the eligibility criteria, proposal and submission procedures, follow the funding line “Sachbeihilfe/Research Grants” (see the DFG guidelines 50.01). This also includes the duty to cooperate (“Kooperationspflicht”) within Germany for members of publicly funded non-university research institutions with permanent positions. On the Indian side, the eligibility requirements follow normal DBT regulations (see the links given below).

Proposals must be written in English and clearly marked as DBT-DFG proposals. They can be submitted at any time of the year but have to be submitted to both DFG and to DBT in parallel in accordance with the proposal preparation requirements of each side, respectively. While conforming to the different respective regulations, forms and submission procedures of the two agencies, the project descriptions must be identical in their substance. As the projects must be fully integrated Indo-German research projects, it is expected that the proposals contain detailed information about the mode and essentiality of collaboration between the Indian and the German side.

German researchers can only apply for funds for the German side of a joint project; Indian researchers can only apply for funds for the Indian side of a joint project. For visits and meetings between both sides, the rule is that the sending side must cover the travel costs while the receiving side covers the complete local hospitality costs. Joint workshops must be financed from the side where they take place. German applicants will detail their budgets both in the proposal file and in the online form on the elan portal. Indian applicants will detail their budgets in the DBT application form.

German researchers have to submit the proposals electronically via the elan portal; Indian researchers have to submit the proposals as a single consolidated PDF file by e-mail to Link auf E-Mailicone@dbt.nic.in in stipulated proforma (see links given below).

It is important for applicants to note that DBT and DFG have not earmarked a special budget for the joint projects to be funded within this funding opportunity. The proposals will be evaluated separately by DBT and DFG within the respective national competitions on the basis of the projects’ scientific merit/quality, the justification for scientific-collaboration and the qualifications as well as the compatibility of the participating team members.

The results of the review process will be shared between the agencies. Funding will be granted for only those proposals where both DBT and DFG recommend funding. Unilateral funding of only one part of a joint initiative will not be possible. DBT and DFG aim to review each proposal within nine months from submission.

Submission of proposals under this funding opportunity will be possible at any time starting immediately. The funding opportunity shall remain open until 31 December 2019; DFG and DBT may issue an extension in due course.

Further Information

To submit a proposal to DFG (for German applicants):

Please follow the “Guidelines for the Research Grants Programme” (DFG form 50.01) and the “Proposal Preparation Instructions – Project Proposals” (DFG form 54.01):